Davenport



Oct. 30, 1934. v P JACKSON 1,978,902

ATTOR N EY Filed June 21, 1955 5 sheets-sheet 2 INVENTOR BY en/wlw@- ATTORN EY Oct. 30, 1934.v v. P. JACKSON DAVENPORT Filed June 21. 1933 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 ATTORNEY Oct. 30, 1934. v. P. JACKSON DAVENPORT Filed June 2l, 1953 5 Sheets-Shea?I 5 V/rlgj/L P. Jaohson ATTO R N EY Patented Oct. 30, 1934 STTS pair 13 Claims.

:This invention relates to furniture and has special reference to that type of davenport which may be converted into a bed.

The primary object of the invention is to pro- -vide means whereby the davenport may be converted into a bed or changed from a bed back to a davenport without requiring heavy manual labor by the operator.

A further object of the invention is to provide mechanism of such form that it may be disposed within the frame of the furniture between the seat and the ends of the frame so that it will not be apt to catch in the clothing of a user and damage the saine or come in contact with the person of a user to his injury.

Incidental objects of the invention will appear in the course of the following description and the invention resides in certain novel features which will be particularly dened in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawingst Figure 1 is an end elevation of a davenport embodying the invention, the side plates of the frame being removed in order that the operating mechanism may be seen.

Figure 2 is a similar view showing the davenport in an intermediate position assumed as it is converted into a bed or vice versa.

Figure 3 is a similar view showing the device arranged as a bed.

Figure 4 is a top plan view with the back cover in open position.

Figure 5 is a transverse section.

Figure 6 is a detail View of the lifting chain and the guide in which the end thereof moves.

Figure 'Z is a View partly in elevation and partly in section of the driving gearing at one end of the furniture.

Figure 8 is a section on the line 8`8 of Figure 6.

Figure 9 is a section on the line 9 9 of Figure 6.

Figure 10 is a transverse section showing the position of the mattress when the device is arranged for use as a davenport.

Figure 11 is an elevation of a part of the operating mechanism whereby the motor is controlled.

Figure 12 is a plan view of the same.

Figure 13 is a diagram.

Figure 14 is a view illustrating the means of connecting the cushion to its respective frame.

The main frame A of the furniture may be of any approved design, a skeleton of the end frame 1 being seen in Figures 1 and 2 from which it will be observed that the upper portion of the end frame is suitably shaped to form a convenient arm rest. The end frame is provided with a closing plate 2 whereby the interior operating gearing will be housed and hidden from view while also so located that neither the person nor clothing of the user of a davenport may come in Contact therewith. The frame also includes a back cover member 3, shown most clearly in Figures 1 and 5 which is hinged to the back of the frame and may be swung forwardly so as to extend over the baci: frame section of the davenport or swung hackwardly to expose said section and permit the same to move upwardly and forwardly or vice versa during the adjustment of the apparatus.

The davenport comprises seat and back frames which are hinged together, as shown at 4, both frames being of skeleton or open formation and preferably of rectangular form. The seat section of the frame furnished with rollers 5 at its lower corners adapted to rest upon the base of the main frame or upon blocks 6 provided therefor on said base to elevate the frame slightly and provide an area which will accommodate the corners thereof as it turns. A cushion 'l is placed on the upper side of the seat frame and is secured thereto by hooks 9. The seat frame carries a cross bar 3 which is provided with slidable clips 11 adapted to engage straps 12 on a spring frame 13. The spring frame 13 carries a plurality of coiled springs 14 which are secured to the frame in any convenient manner. The ends of the springs le remote from the frame 13 are attached to a border wire 17 and a mattress 18 is placed against this border wire 17 and held thereto by straps or tapes 19 which are fastened to the side portions of the wire and passed across the mattress, as will be miderstood upon reference to Figures 3 and l0. The mattress will be thus held in place while the frame is being turned and will not drop therefrom. The back section of the article is similar in construction to the seat section and includes a frame 20, springs 21, a mattress 22 and a cushion 23. The back cushion 23 is of the same construction as the cushion 7 and will be upholstered in any approved style. When the device is arranged as a davenport, as shown in Figures l and 5, the back frame will be covered by the back cover 3 and the mattress carried by the seat section will be entirely enclosed by the main frame A o1' the furniture, as will be understood.

At each end of the seat section, within the main frame of the furniture, is a housing 24 which is shown most clearly in Figures 6 and 7.

This housing is secured upon the base or bottom of the main frame and rises therefrom, extending upwardly and rearwardly to enclose the lifting chain and the pinion for actuating the same and deiine the working path for the chain. The housing is provided with a channel in its lo-wer portion which communicates directly with the lower end of a supporting and guiding tube 26 which is located close to the front side of the main frame and receives the chain 27 with a close running lit. The upper end of the tube 26 is open and on its rear side is provided with a curved lip 28 over which the free end portion of the chain runs, the chain depending from said lip, as shown in Figure 6. In the side of the housing 24 is a slot 29 which extends substantially in the form of a parabola from the center of the casing upwardly close to the top of the same and then downwardly to terminate in a closed end, as shown at 30. Arranged in the slot 29 is a slide 31 which is adapted to travel therein and this slide is carried at the side of the chain 27 through the medium of a pin or stud 32 which extends into the end frame of the seat section of the davenport and eccentrically connected therewith is a turning disc 33 which fits within a plate 34 forming a part of the said seat frame, the said disc 33 being adapted to initially raise the seat section so that the rollers 5 will be elevated from the block. 6 and the seat section freed for movement for converting the davenport to a bed or vice versa. Connected with the stud or pin 32 is one end of a link 35 which extends toward the top of the frame and is pivoted at 35 to one arm of a bell crank or angle lever 36 pivoted as at 36.

The other arm of the angle lever carries a pin 37 which extends to the outer side of the frame and is pivoted in the end of a crank 38 which is xed to a gear 39. The gear 39 is journaled suitably at the upper end of the frame or housing 24 and meshes with an idler 40 mounted upon a stud projecting from the side or" said housing and in turn meshing with a pinion 4l fixed upon a shaft 42 which is journaled in the side of the housing and extends into the same. The inner end of this shaft 42 carries a pinion 43 which engages the chain 27 and efects travel of the same along. the guiding channel in the housing, as will be understood. The outer end of the shaft 42 carries a worm gear 44 which meshes with a worm 45 on the forward end of the shaft 46 mounted in suitable bearings on the base of the main frame and equipped at its rear end with a worm gear 47 meshing with a worm 48 on the end of a' shaft 49 which is mounted in suitable bearings upon the base of the main frame and is coupled directly to the shaft of a small electric motor 50 which is disposed within the main frame of the article. The gearing which has just been described is duplicated at the two ends of the apparatus, as will be understood upon reference to Figure 4.

i The motor 50, as stated, is a small electric motor `and is set in motion through manipulation of a handswitch, indicated at 51, on the back of the frame and adapted to be connected with the house lighting circuit.

' Upon the shaft 49, intermediate the ends there-` of, isa worm 50 meshing with a worm gear 51 ona short vertical shaft 52 which is equipped at its upper end with a worm 53 meshing with a worm gear 54 which is fixed upon the front end of a shaft 55 suitably supported Within the frame and carrying at its rear end a pinion 56 which meshes with a rack bar 57 mounted slidably in a box 58. The rack bar 57 is pivoted at one end to a rod 59 which has its opposite end fitted through a box 60 and arranged to slide therethrough. Adjustable abutments 61 upon the rod 59 at opposite sides of the box 60 will be brought into contact with the box by the movement of the rod and the box will thereby be shifted to throw a switch. The box 60 is fixed upon the rear side of a switch arm 62 which actuates a reversing switch, indicated at 63 in Figure i3, and which may be of any well known throw type. The upper end of the arm 62 is pivoted to one end of a rod'64 which connects said arm with a similar arm of a cut-out switch 66. The end of the rod 64 is slidably fitted through a projection on the switch arm 65 and adjustable abutments 67 on the rod 64 will operate by impact to throw the switch.

Pivoted upon the outer side of the end member of the seat frame is a latch 68 which is adapted to engage a stud 69 on the frame of the back member and thereby lock the twoframes in alignment, as shown-in Figure 2. This latch is engaged by a spring 76 carried by the end frame and one end of the latch is disposed in the path of the crank or lever 38, as clearly shown in Figure l.

f A leg 7l is pivoted on the end frame of the back section of the davenport and will normally depend from its pivot between said frame and the end of the main frame, as will be understood upon reference to Figure l. A connecting bar 72 is pivoted at one end upon the end frame of the seat section and at its opposite end is pivoted to a short extension 73 to provide a break joint which in turn is pivoted to the leg 71, the bar 72 being of curved formation. A retractile spring 74 is attached to this lever or connecting. bar 72 and to the end frame of the back section of the davenport and tends to hold the lever in any position in which it may be set.

The motor 56 is reversible and when the switch 5l is manipulated the motor will rotate in one direction. The rotation of the motor will actuate the trains of gearing shown and described and will also cause the rod 59 to move in one or the opposite direction. The abutments 61 and 67 are so adjusted as to permit the respective rods to move through such a period as is necessary to move the seat and back sections from the positions they occupy as a davenport into the positions they occupy as a bed or Vice versa and one or the other of said abutments will at the termination4 of said period impinge against the box 60 and throw the switch arm 62 to reverse the switch 63. The rod 64 will, of course, move with the switch arm 62 and will bring one or the other of the abutments 67 against the switch arm 65 so as to shift the same. When the switch arm 65 is actuated it will be moved off one contact rand placed in engagement with the other contact which is in the circuit with the switch 5l so that the motor will be stopped. To set the motor in motion, the switch 51 must be again actuated so that it will be crossed from the position it then occupies and restablish a circuit through the switch 65, thereby starting the motor but the motor will now rotate in the opposite direction so that the .sections of the davenport will be returned to the position occupied prior to the previous operation. When the motor is set in operation, the pinion 43 will actuate the chain 27 and as the chain is fitted closely within the channel 25 of the housing 24 it will slide upwardly and rearwardly therein so that the slide 31 will be caused to travel the length of the slot 29. The seat section of the davenport will consequently be 15p lifted from the blocks or rests 6 and willrstart to move upwardly and rearwardly and clear yof the bottom of the main frame A. Inasmuch as the back section is hinged to the seat section, the back section will, of course, at once start to move and if the cover 3 has not been swung to open position the frame will push it upwardly out-ofthe-way. As the seat frame moves upwardly and rearwardly, the disc33 will be rotated in the following manner. The gear 39 will rotate simultaneously with the pinion 43 and in the same direction inasmuch as it will be driven through the gears 41 and 40, the gear 4l being on the same shaft with the pinion 43. When the gear 39 rotates, the crank arm 38 secured thereto will be swung arcuately in a rearward and upward direction from the position shown in Figure 1 of the drawings and in itspath of movement the latch 68 is arranged for engagement therewith, so that the latter will be rocked against the influence of the spring to be in a position to engage the stud 69 on the back frame when the seat frame comes in alignment with said back frame. this being effected under the influence of the spring 70 when the said arm 3S has disengaged the said latch 68. The movement of the crank arm 38 will transmit motion directly to the angle lever 36 which will be rocked about its pivot 36', moving the slide 31 in the slot 29, causing the seat frame to move rearwardly and upwardly in an arcuate direction. The lupward movement of the seat frame causes initially the raising of said seat frame clear of the block 6 and through the instrumentality of the link 35, which will be moved by said angle lever, the disc 33 will be turned on the pin 32, the disc acting as a compensator for the proper swinging of the seat frame as effected by the angle lever 36 and the link 35 and during the swinging movement there is a steady action of the angle lever 36. As the upward movement of the frame continues it will be rocked about the disc 33 as a center so that it will eventually reach the position shown in Figure 2 and then proceed to a completely inverted position, as shown Figure 3. As it :noves into alignment with the frame section the latch 68 will engage the stud 69 so that. the sections will be held in alignment and the mattress will be brought into the same relative positions to present a level surface for the sleeper. rlhe connecting bar or lever 72 will, of course, follow the movement of the frame to which it is pivoted and inasmuch as it moves in a different arc from that followed by the frame cf the back section it will act as a pusher to swing the leg 7l out to the position shown in Figure 2. The extension 73 has the break joint connection with the bar '72, as shown at '75, so that relative movement between the bar and the section can only occur in one direction and for arranging the leg 7l at a slight outward angle from the vertical so that collapse of the structure bethereby prevented when supported by said leg. As the bar moves from the position shown in Figure l to the position shown in Figure 2, the point of attachment of the spring 74.- to the bar will move past the point of attachment of the spring to the frame so that vthe spring will yieldably hold the bar in either of its positions. When the device is to be reconverted to a davenport,

furniture, causes the back frame to swing on the hinges 4 and the bar 72 contacts with the pin 76 to momentarily break the joint at the connection of the short extension 73, as at this moment the leg 7l will be slightly outwardly angled with relation to the back section and such contact of the said bar '72 with the pin 76 causes a pulling action on the leg "11, whereby it will swing inwardly with respect to thc back section in contact with the stop 74 and thus be out of the way and hidden from view.

When the seat anrl back frames are shifted from clavenport position to a bed position the bar '.72 in conjunction with the short extension '73 under the aligning action of these frames with relation to each other causes the leg 71 to be pus ed outwardly from the inward folded position to a supporting or Dropping position at the slight outward angle as is clearly shown in Figure 3 of the drawings.

On the movement of the lever 38, having in its path the latch. 68, when the arm and back frames are in locked aligned position with respect to each other and are being shifted from a bed position to a davenport position, the said latch 68 will be tripped by this arm 38 to thus free the seat and back frames so that they will swing on the hinges 4 to allow them to become adjusted by angular movement to assume davenport position.

As has been stated, the disc 33 is eccentrically connected by the pin 32 with the slide 3l and this pin constitutes the pivot for the link: 35 for its eccentric connection with said disc 33, the latter being loosely held within a correspondingly shaped opening in the plate 34 unitary with the seat frame, as will be apparent from Figures 5, 6, '7, 8 and 9 of the drawings.

The seat frame in its movement operates about each disc 33 and the latter changing its position during such 1movement so that the scat frarie will 115 be properly positioned when the furniture is converted from a davenport to a bed or vice versa. The slide 3l is caused to travel in the slot 29 by movement of the chain 27 which operates in the guido tube 26, the said slot 29 being provided in the housing 24, as hereinbefore described.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be seen that I have provided. a device which may be readily arranged for as a bed or as davonport without subie-clin'v the user to ph. ncal st Jin. The turning or throwing of the switch 5l is the only work required. of the operator and the labor of l' ting or pulling or pushing any of the parts of the apparatus is entirely eliminated. All of the operating mechanism, erlcept the switch 5l is completely housed within the main frame of the furniture and thc main frame he given any desired ornamental design so that the utilitarian qualities of the apparatus will be not prominently 135 displayed.

Having described the invention, I claim:

l. A convertible davenport comprising a seat section, a bach section hinged to the seat section, means for turning the seat section through an orbital path whereby to invert the same and to bring the back section into alignment with the seat section, and means whereby as the back and scat sections approach alignment, the sections will be locked together.

2. A convertible davenport comprising a seat section, a back: section hinged to the seat section, means connected with the seat section for turning the same through an orbital path, whereby the back section will be moved by and in advance of 1&0

the seat section, a spring-pressed latch on the seat section, and a stud on the back section toY be engaged by said latch whereby to lock the two .sections in alignment.

3. A convertible davenport comprising a seat section, a back section hinged to the seat section,

' a latch mounted upon the seat section and adapted to engage an element upon the back section to lock the sections in alignment, and means connected with the seat section for moving the same through an orbital path whereby to invert it, said means including an element adapted to engage and actuate the latch.

4. In an article of furniture, a seat section, a back section swingingly connected with said seat section, a housing at the end of the seat section, a slide movable in said housing, a rotary disk fitted in the end of the seat section and connected with the slide, a train oi gearing mounted on the housing, connections between the train oi gearing and the disk, means whereby the train of gearing will operate the slide, and means for actuating the of gearing.

5. A convertible davenport comprising a seat Asection, a back section hinged to the seat section,

housings at opposite ends of the seat section, slides movable along the housings, chains connected with the slides, pinions engaging the chains, disks rotatably fitted in the ends of the seat section and leccentrically connected with the slides, and driven connections operating said pinions whereby the seat section will be lifted and moved through an orbital path to be inverted.

, 6. A convertible davenport comprising a seat lsection, a back section hinged to the seat section,

jeccentrically connected with the slides, driven connections operating said pinions, whereby the section will be lifted and moved through an or -tal path to be inverted, and means carried by the back section and operable on movement of the seat section for the supplemental support of said sections when seat section has been inverted.

'2. A convertible davenport comprising a seat section, a back section hinged to the seat section,

housings at opposite ends of the seat section, slides movable along the housings, chains connected with the slides, pinions engaging the chains, disks rotatably fitted in the ends of the seat section and eccentrica-ily connected with the slides, driven connections operating said pinions whereby the seat section will be lifted and moved through an orbital path to he inverted, means carried by the back section and operable on movement of the seat section for the supplemental support of said -secticns when said seat section has been inverted, means for latching together the seat and back sections when the seat section is inverted and means automatically releasing the latching means during the reverse movement oi the seat and back sections.

8. A convertible davenport comprising' a seat section, a back section hinged to the seat section, a motor driven mechanism connected with the ends of the seat section for inverting the same, and means for automatically latching the back section in alignment with the seat section during the inversion of the seat section.

9. A convertible ,davenport comprising a seat section, a back section hinged to the seat section, motor driven mecanisin connected with the ends of the seat section for inverting the same, means for automatically latching the back section in alignment with the seat section during the inversion of the seat section, and a foldable support carried by the back section and automatically movable to supporting position therefor on the inverting of the seat section.

10. A convertiblel davenport comprising a seat section, a back section hinged to the seat section, motor driven mechanism connected with the ends or the seat section for inverting the same, means for automatically latching the back section in alignment with the seat section during the inversion of the seat section, a oldable support carried by the back section and automatically movable to supporting position therefor on the inverting of the seat section, and a reversible motor operating said mechanism.

11. A convertible davenport comprising a seat section, a back section hinged to the seat section, motor driven mechanism connected with the ends of the seat section for inverting the same, means for automatically latching the back section in alignment with the seat section during the inversion of the seat section, a foldable support carried by the back section andy 'automatically movable to supporting position therefor on the inverting oi the seat section, reversible motor operating said mechanism, and a main frame carrying said sections.

l2. A convertible davenport comprising a seat section, a back section hinged to the seat section, a leg pivoted to the back section, a connecting bar pivoted to the seat section and to the leg, a break joint included in said bar, a spring connected to the connecting bar and to the back section, and means on the back section to engage said bar for breaking its joint for the folding of the leg when said sections are folded with respect to each other.

13. A convertible davenport comprising a seat section, a back section hinged to the seat section, a leg pivoted to the back section, a connecting bar pivoted to the seat section and to the leg, a break joint included in said bar, a spring connected to the connecting bar and to the back section, means on the back section to engage said bar for breaking its joint for the folding of the leg when said sections are folded with respect to each other, and means connected with the seat section for inverting the same.

VIRGIL P. JACKSON. 

